Phantom 4 to Cancun

iampeterlee · May 7, 2016

I'm traveling to Cancun in two weeks for a short vacation. I am planning to bring my Phantom 4, I am a little concerned about getting in through the airport in Cancun. I heard some people had trouble getting through the TSA in Mexico. Anybody here went to Mexico with their drone? Should I bring it? What was your experience? Thanks guys!

mmee1992 · May 7, 2016

I just felt with this but it was under weird circumstances as I am a flight crew member. My Phantom was taken from me (returned when I left the country) but I didn't think I would get it back. I asked for clarification of the rules and they said that if you are a passenger that you will be taxed on the assessed value of the drone that exceeds $300.00. I believe the tax was 15%. They said my P3P was valued at $700.00 so the taxable amount would be $400.00.

mmee1992 · May 7, 2016

As far as I know as a passenger you shouldn't have any issue other than the tax which shouldn't be anything more than $100.00 worst case I would think.

Toyz · May 8, 2016

Wait what? 15‰ of 700 is 400 ? I am sort of familiar with Mexican math but this seems excessive.

iampeterlee · May 8, 2016

wow even $100.00 tax is a lot, what is the tax for anyway? fun tax? i'm thinking twice now, and i bought this quad specifically for this, thanks for the reply mmee1992

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Dacon Productions · May 8, 2016

LEAVE IT at home. I live in Arizona, I know the BS they pull.

arithor · May 8, 2016

well, over in Iceland import Tax is 24% , 15% i nothing

chapsrlz · May 8, 2016

thats absurd, because you are a tourist.

with that logic every tourist that enters mexico with a laptop a dslr or anything that exceeds 300 should be charged...

Dacon Productions · May 8, 2016

I don't understand a few things, need clarification...lots of it.
So, if you take the P3/P4 into Mexico (or other country), at border you need to pay taxes to bring it in???
Why? Why for the drone? Are you going to sell it there? Is it used fore fun or profit?
How about being taxed on the cell phone? or DSLR camera? or luggage case?...how about socks, underwear, shirt, pants, etc. If they want to make money why not tax it all?

secretLOVER · May 8, 2016

Here's a little clarification of what I think they're saying:

In Brazil it is 60%. If you are a resident flying back in they will tax you. If they're present at the custom booths. If you have 3 iPhones/cameras/etc they will tax you.

If you are just visiting with a US passport they don't tax you.

iampeterlee · May 8, 2016

my purpose is to visit, be a tourist, to enjoy mexico and I have no intentions or not even thinking of selling my drone, why taxed? right? and also, it was already taxed when I bought it

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iampeterlee · May 8, 2016

i just watched BFvsGF vlog, his drone was confiscated from him at the airport

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iampeterlee · May 8, 2016

Casey also have had trouble bringing his drone in to Mexico... sad..

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chapsrlz · May 9, 2016

iampeterlee said:
Casey also have had trouble bringing his drone in to Mexico... sad..

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he said that people at the airport freaked out, the same happened to me when i took mine to japan...

you should be ok to bring yours to cancun.

BrandAL · May 9, 2016

Hi all,

This sounds like my worst nightmare. My friends and I are going to Iceland in August. Do you guys think I'll be ok taking the drone there?

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igor.L · May 9, 2016

Hey, was in Cancun in March. Had no problem at the custom/immigration/border control.
They open the case, look at it and I was clear to go. So don't worry.

chapsrlz · May 9, 2016

BrandAL said:
Hi all,

This sounds like my worst nightmare. My friends and I are going to Iceland in August. Do you guys think I'll be ok taking the drone there?

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im going to iceland in november, and definetly want to get there with the drone, please let us -me- know how was your trip and the experience with yours.

soulphantomflyer · May 9, 2016

As a tourist, I don't go thru custom most of the time while entering their country. Just immigration/border control

It is during the return trip back to US that u go thru custom.

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BrandAL · May 9, 2016

chapsrlz said:
im going to iceland in november, and definetly want to get there with the drone, please let us -me- know how was your trip and the experience with yours.

I will definitely let you guys know. I hope everything will be ok fingers X!

P.s. if going in to Mexico I can get myself out of it, because I speak Spanish

Not sure about Iceland...

iampeterlee · May 21, 2016

Just came back from Mexico, via Cancun Airport, no problem at all, they opened the Phantom4 case and when they saw my FAA registation they let me go. I suggest you do the same. Thanks guys!

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